The VW XL1 is the other supercar

MPG champ is just as advanced as the others.

It may be optimized for fuel economy, but the Volkswagen XL1 is just as exotic as any Lamborghini Veneno or McLaren P1.

Just look at the XL1's specs: It will be sold in very limited numbers. It uses costly, lightweight materials such as carbon-fiber and magnesium in its
construction. It's laid out like a sports car, with only two seats, the engine positioned ahead of the rear axle, and a streamlined body that sits lower
than a Porsche Boxster. Even the doors swing upward, instead of out.

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But there's one key difference between the Volkswagen XL1 and supercars such as the Lamborghini Veneno and McLaren P1: The latter are built for
triple-digit speeds, while the XL1 is built for triple-digit fuel economy.

The XL1 is a plug-in hybrid with an electric motor and a tiny two-cylinder diesel engine, basically VW's 1.6-liter diesel four-cylinder cut in half.
Together they produce only 74 hp and return up to 261 mpg.

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The XL1 behaves like most modern hybrids, using the combustion engine and electric motor separately or in tandem, depending on driving conditions and the
battery's state of charge. It has a range of up to 31 miles using only its electric motor and lithium-ion batteries.

Superb aerodynamics-the best of any production vehicle, VW says-and a low curb weight are key to the XL1's remarkable fuel efficiency. It weighs less than
1,800 pounds, which is a good thousand pounds lighter than the average compact car these days.

It will go on sale later this year in Austria and Germany for an undisclosed price. Official production volume has not been announced. But various sources
online peg output from as low as 250 to as high as 5,000.

John Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group, said in a one-on-one interview at the Geneva Motor Show that although there are currently no plans to sell the XL1
in the United States, he thinks it would be a good move to bring at least "a few" over, given its potential impact as a halo car for advanced fuel-saving
technology.

Although it is technically a production car and not just a prototype, the Volkswagen XL1 is really more like an advanced test vehicle that will be put into
the hands of carefully selected early adopters whose feedback will help VW perfect its next-generation hybrid technology. BMW, Mini and Smart have used a
similar approach for new electric vehicles introduced in recent years.